Jesus experienced deep friendship, even though His disciples were only in face to face proximity with Him for about four years. During this time He enjoyed friends, such as Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. But friendship with Jesus was much more than sharing things in common such as interests, backgrounds, hopes and dreams.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.” – John 15:12-17